Chain



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S. L@ LEDEREW l CHMTN.

Filed Nov..l2 .1926

' l s l s f 1 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

vintentie Jan. 29, 1929.

UNIT-EDy STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIGM'UND L. LEDERER, 0F PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO PROVIDENCE STOCKv COMPANY, OF PROVIDENCE, ISLAND.

RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE CHAIN.

.Application led November 12, 1928. Serial No. 147,984.

This invention relates to an extendible chain structure more particularly adapted for use as a flexible bracelet; and has for one ofl its objects to provide a chain or bracelet of this construction having links adapted to slide one within the other and be detachably connected together, whereby the bracelet may be extended in the direction of its length and its links detached for the purose of removing or insertingone or more links to adjust the operating length of the chain or bracelet.

A further object of the invention is to form the outer link from an ornamented sheet metal blank into cup shape preferably by a drawing or swaging operation and to bevel its edges so that this ornamentation on the blank will show on the top and bevelededges thereof, which effect is produced without a folding operation thus reducing the number of operations to produce this link with ornamentation on its top and sides.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the outer box or cup link without seams and to form pierced holes in the end walls, the piercing at one end serving as a guide for the sliding movement of the connecting link and the other end serving as a bar to which the adjacent slide link may be detachably connected.

The invention further consists in forming the inner slide link with inclined side edges to engage and centralize the spring therein and hold it in longitudinal alignment.

A still further object of the invention is the forming of the slide link in band shape with one of its parts arranged to close the cup when in contracted position, the link being of a width less than that of the outer link and provided with laterally extending `wings or portions by which one of its ends is guided to slide in the outer link.

The invention further consists in rolling inwardly the rear side edges of the cup or outer link to serve as guides on which a portion of the inner link is arranged to slide.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my Figure 2 is a perspective View of the outer' box or cup-sha ed link showing the same as being beveled a out its top edge and showing one of its pierced end walls.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3-3 of Fivure 2 showing the openings through the lbeveled edge portions of its end walls.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Figure 2 showing the inwardly rolled rear edges on the side walls of the cup link and the opening through one of the end walls through which the slide link is guided.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the slide link showing its beveled edges and the laterally extending guide fingers on one of its ends.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the slide link showing the same formed in band shape with its rear wall split transversely to permit it to be hooked over one end wall of the cup link.

Figure 7 is a section on line 7--7 of Fi ure 6, showing the laterally extending gui e fingers on the slide link.

Figure 8 is a top view in section showing a few links in extended position and the cu links being connected by the slide link with the springs compressed.

Figure 9 is a sectional side view of the parts in the position yillustrated in Figure 8.

Figure 10 shows a sectional top view of two outer links in contracted position and connected by a band link.

Figure 11 is a sectional edge view showing the parts in the position illustrated in Figure 10.

Figure 12 shows the bandshaped slide link in transverse section with the spring mounted therein and held against lateral movement by downwardly turned side edge portions thereof.

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view showing the slide link as guided in the outer cup or box link and the spring as carried and heldin position by the inclined walls of the slide link and showing the bottom wall of the band-shaped slide link as providing the bottom or inner wall for the cup link.

Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view showing the slide link in section as being guided in the slotted end wall of the cup titi link, this end wall also serving as an abutment for one end of the spring. c

Figure 15 shows al slide link positioned to be hooked through the slot in the end wall of the eu lilik to detachably connect these link mem ers together.

. Figure 16 is a plan view of the blank from which the outer link is formed.

Figure 17 is a perspective view showlng the blank as cupped up in one of the positions it assumes before being finally bent into sha e.

It is tound in the construction of chains or bracelets of this character of advantage to form the outer link from a sheet metal blank and strike the ornamentation on the blank and then form the same into cup shape by a drawing or swaging operation withv beveled edges about its face, whereby the ornament-ation is caused to show on this front face and also on the beveled ortion thus presenting the appearance of aving ornamented side walls and so eliminate the usual folding operation and consequently materially reduce the cost of production; and also by this drawing operation I eliminate the usual corner seams or joint thus materially increasingr the working strength of this link.

It is also found of advantage to provide the beveled end portions of this cup-shaped outer 'link with openings of a shape to receive and guide one end `of its connecting link as it slides therein, the opening at the opposite end of the cup serving to receive the hook portion of the slide link of the next adjacent link unit, also to mount a contracting spring in the slide link, which link is of a width substantially less than that of the cup link and to maintain this spring in centralized operating position by turning the edge walls of the slide link over the outside edge portions of the spring forming somewhat of a channel in the slide link to hold the coils of the spring in operative alignment, and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of my invention and showing one means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished lVith reference to the drawings, 16 desig nates the outer box or cup link which is preferably formed from a sheet metal blank which is constructed with the desired ornamentation on its face and then drawn up into cup shape with the outer edges of the front face-of the cup beveled all around as at 17, the ornamentation on the blank when drawn being positioned to cover the front face and also the beveled portions thus giving the blank the appearance of having its side walls ornamented, which construction eliminates the usual folding process which is much more expensive than this swaging method with the result that the link thus formed with its beveled edge is given a very handsome and attractive appearance also the usual edge seams are eliminated lich renders this link very strong and dura e.

The rear edges of the side walls `18 of this cuplink are then rolled inwardly as at 19 providing a guiding edge 20 for the slide link, presently described. The beveled portions 21 of the end walls 22 of this outer link are then pierced as at 23 from the inner side outwardly into a shape to receive, fit and guide the slide link 24. The end wall 22 thus pierced is in ellect a cross bar embraced by the slide link 24. This guide link'24 is preferably made in band shape as best illustrated in Figure 5, the outer edge portions 25 of the band being preferably beveled somewhat, as at 26, the under portion of l the band being split as at 27, to permit a portion 28 of its wall to be bent or spaced inwardly, as best illustrated in Figure 15, so that this band shaped link maybe hooked through the opening 23 in the cupto engage the end wall 22 thereof. I

This band-shaped slide link is of a width preferably considerably narrower than that yof the outer cup or box link and is provided with laterally-extending guide fingers or wings 29. which extend laterally to slidably engage the inner surface of the side walls of the cup link to centralize this end of the slide link in the cup and guide its endways movement therein, the bottom wall 28 of this band link serving to close the inner opening of the cup and present a broad, smooth bearing surface to the arm of the wearer. The downwardly turned side edges of the outer portion of this slide link serve to engage the outer edges of the spring 30 to hold Vits coils in working alignment.l This construction also serves to prevent the coilsfrom coming in contact with the 'inner walls of the cup or outer link, thereby preventing friction by the coil on its walls which renders a smoother expanding action to the links than as if the spring were vpermitted to friction againstA the sides of the cup links in which they slide.

I have also formed one of the openings in the beveled portion of the end wall 22 of the cup of a shape to correspond to the outer wall of the slide link so that one end of this slide link may receive a broad guiding bearing in this cup member, the opposite end of .this slide link being guided by the fingers 29. Also, it will be noted that by forming this slide through the beveled portion of the end wall that the connecting and disconnecting 'of the slide link and cup link to the cup link is greatly facilitated, as illustrated in Figure 15. Also, by forming this slide in the end wall 22 a broad abutting surface for one end of the spring 30 is presented. Y i

My improved bracelet constructed by my .improved swaging operation with its beveled edges presents a handsome and attractive appearance and the usual corner seams are eliminated and the cost of production is reduced over a box type of link formed by a folding operation.

The foregoing description is 4 directed solely tovards the construction illustrated. but I desire it to be understood that I reserve t-he privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible. the invention being dened and limited only by the terms of the appended claims. y

I claim:

1. An extendible bracelet comprising a series of outer links, each having top, side and end walls with seamless corners, said end Walls having slots therein and bandshaped links extending through the adjacentend slots and connecting the adjacent end walls of the outer links and also forming when in contracted position bottom walls for said outer links.

2. An extendible chain structure compris ing a series of outer links formed into a seamless cup with top, side and end Walls, one of said end Walls having an opening therein and a band-shaped connecting link one part of which is slidably guided iny said opening and another part serving as a closing wall for the cup when in contracted position. 3. Ar extendible chain structure,compris ing a series of units each comprising a box link having top and side Walls, a cross bar connecting the side Walls at one end, said top Wall being arranged to extend short of the cross bar and leave anv unobstructed space for vertical insertion of a slide link and a band-shaped slide link having a split bot-tom wall to provide a hook portion to engage the cross bar of the box link of the next adjacent unit for detachably connect-- ing the units together.

4. An extendible bracelet comprising a series of outer links each having top, side and end walls with an inclined portion connecting the top with each side and end Wall, a slot in the inclined portion connecting the 'top and end Walls and a` detachable connect- 'ing link extending through the slots of adjacent end Walls to attach the outer links together.

5. An extendible chain structures comprising a series of outer cup-shaped links having top, side and end Walls, said top Wall being beveled on both its side and end edges, said end beveled portion being slotted, and a detachable connecting link arranged to be hooked into one of said end slots.

6. An extendible chain structure comprising a series of outer cup-shaped links having top, side and end Walls, said top Wall being beveled on both its sides and end edges, said end beveled portion being slotted, and a band-shaped connecting link having a split bottom portion adapted to be hooked intoA one of the end slots of the cup link' to separablyy connect the links together.

7. An extendible chain structure comprising a series of cup links having front and end walls, the end edges of said front walls being beveled outwardly to meet said end wall with apertures in said beveled portion and inner band shaped links extending through the apertures in said beveled vportions and around the edges of said end Wall and slidably housed lin the cuplinks said band link being split for connecting the cup links together.

8. An extendible bracelet comprising a series of connected unit-s, each unit comprising an outer link having top, side and end walls. an inner link having top, bottom and end walls, the top Wall of the inner link being inclined along its edges to the plane of its top wall, one end Wall of the outer link being slotted in a shape to fit the contour of the top Wall of the inner link to permit it to slide therethrough whereby the maximum surface of the end Wall of the outer link is preserved.

9. An extendible bracelet comprising a series of connecting units, each unit comprising inner and outer links, each having end walls and a top Wall with side portions inclined'to the plane of the outer surface thereof, a spring acting between the end Walls of the inner and outer links of each unit, the end Walls of the outer links having slots in a shape to lit the top Wall of the inner link with its inclined sides to slide therethrough thereby guiding the inner link and presenting the maximum abutting surface of said outer link for said spring.

10'. An extendible chain st-ructure comprising a series of box links having inclined Walls on their upper portions, connecting links therefor each slidable in its box link and each having top and bot-tom Walls, a central closing spring in each box link being of a Width substantially less than that of its box link. inclined Walls corresponding to those of the box links extending from the top Wall of said slide link and engaging the outer surface of the convolutions of said spring to hold it in operating alignment.

1l. An extendible chain structure comprising a series of cup links having front and side walls, band-shaped connecting links, slidable in said cup links, one end Wall of the band link having portions substantially the Width ofthe space between the side Wall of the cup link and guided thereby, said end wall having notched bottom corners, and the side Walls of the cup link being rolled inwardly to provide guiding edges to be engaged and guided by the edges of said notched portions of the end wall of the eonnecting links.

12. The method of forming links for extendible chains comprising, first ornamenting and then drawing a blank into cup :shape with the outer edges of the front face of the cup beveled, the ornamentation on the blank when drawn being positioned to cover the front face including the beveled portion thereof.

13. A method of forming a link for an extendible chain including forming a suitably shaped blank from sheet stock, then ornamenting' and then drawing' the blank into cup shape with sid md end Walls with seamless/corners and w h beveled ortions connecting the top and end and si e walls, the ornamentation initially formed on the blank covering the top and side beveled portions of the drawn blank, piercing the end beveled portions, and rolling the side walls to form guides for the 'connecting link.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

SIGMUN D L. LEDERER. 

